Originally coming to fame in the mid-1960s singing orchestral pop ballads as the frontman of The Walker Brothers, Walker went on to a solo career balancing a light entertainment/MOR ballad approach with increasing artistic innovations in arrangement and writing. Despite a series of acclaimed albums, a disastrous drop in sales forced him back into straight Middle of the road recordings with little of his own artistic input. This in turn eventually led to a Walker Brothers reunion in the mid-1970s (although the latter eventually moved, by mutual consent, into more avant-garde areas).
From the mid-1980s, Walker revived his solo career while drastically reinventing his artistic and compositional methods, via a series of acclaimed and vividly avant-garde albums. These combined his iconic voice with an unsettling avant-garde approach which owed more to modernist and post-modernist classical composition than to his pop singer past. This change in approach has been compared to "Andy Williams reinventing himself as Stockhausen".
Walker has been a continuing influence on other artists, in particular The Last Shadow Puppets, Marc Almond, Goldfrapp, Douglas Pearce of the band Death in June, Billy MacKenzie of The Associates, David Sylvian, Julian Cope, Antony Hegarty, Thom Yorke, Steven Wilson, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Trey Spruance, Perry Blake, Radiohead, Noah Lennox, Mikael Åkerfeldt, and the Divine Comedy/Neil Hannon.
Walker continued to release solo material until his death, and was signed to 4AD Records. As a record producer or guest performer he worked with a number of artists including Pulp, Ute Lemper, Bat For Lashes and Sunn O))).
This way Mary
Scott Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Share the world with me
Make this moment our moment
And our memories
This way Mary, come Mary
Let me warm your heart
Take this love I bring you
This way Mary, come Mary
While the sun is high
Make this summer the summer
That refuse to die
This way Mary, run Mary
Our love had to be
So take my hand
And walk this way with me
This way Mary, come Mary
Our love has to be
So take my hand
And walk this way with me
The lyrics to Scott Walker’s song “This way Mary” speak of a yearning for love and companionship. The singer invites Mary to share in the world with him and create lasting memories together. He desires to warm Mary’s heart and to start a forever bond with her. The lyrics create a picture of a summer day where the love they share will be the guiding force. The singer asks Mary to take his hand and run, so they can escape the difficulties of life and be together. The repetition of the phrase “This way Mary” throughout the song serves to emphasize the longing and passion that the singer has for Mary. It is a moving and powerful love song that shows the depth of emotions that the singer has for the woman he loves.
Line by Line Meaning
This way Mary, come Mary
I am inviting you to join me on this path, Mary
Share the world with me
Let's embrace everything the world has to offer together
Make this moment our moment
Let's make sure to live fully in the present moment and enjoy it together
And our memories
We will cherish these memories forever
Let me warm your heart
I want to bring you happiness and comfort
Take this love I bring you
I am offering you my love and devotion
And then let forever start
Let's build a lasting relationship with each other
While the sun is high
Let's make the most of our time together while we have it
Make this summer the summer
Let's create a wonderful and unforgettable summer experience
That refuse to die
Let's make the memories we create last forever
Our love had to be
Our love was inevitable and could not be avoided
So take my hand
Let me guide you forward in this journey
And walk this way with me
Let's continue on this path together
Our love has to be
Our love is meant to be and cannot be denied
Contributed by Sophia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
paddywackswanson
The fantastic voice of the incredible Scott Walker, always wonderful to hear.
Memories Are What Make Us Who We Are
I am sadden to hear Scott Walker passed away last month. This song is one of my favorite John Barry's music. So thank you, Steve, for making it available.
john walton
I have never been able to listen to this song fully through without shedding a tear for those not with us anymore that have brightened our lives. It is so haunting...
Julia Read
So haunting and just beautiful 💖
Philip Mayer
Is this from one of the albums he wouldn't let be re-released?
Thank Goodness, some of us still have the originals.
The Best Singer In The World.
Rest in Peace, Scott.
Steve Saragossi
Yes, it's from THE MOVIEGOER LP. It's a shame he never allowed this album to be formally released.
XD Productions
Not hard to find a download, though it isn’t necessarily legitimate/legal
Daniel Jones
Does anyone know why Soctt did not release this album.
XD Productions
@Daniel Jones contractual obligations
Jason O'Toole
@Daniel Jones He did release it (in 1972). Just didn’t want it re-issued.